Role in IT decision-making process:Align Business & IT GoalsCreate IT StrategyDetermine IT NeedsManage Vendor RelationshipsEvaluate/Specify Brands or VendorsOther RoleAuthorize PurchasesNot Involved

Work Phone:

Company:

Company Size:

Industry:

Street Address

City:

Zip/postal code

State/Province:

Country:

Occasionally, we send subscribers special offers from select partners. Would you like to receive these special partner offers via e-mail?YesNo

Your registration with Eweek will include the following free email newsletter(s):News & Views

By submitting your wireless number, you agree that eWEEK, its related properties, and vendor partners providing content you view may contact you using contact center technology. Your consent is not required to view content or use site features.

By clicking on the "Register" button below, I agree that I have carefully read the Terms of Service and the Privacy Policy and I agree to be legally bound by all such terms.

Apple Tablet Rumors Could Pressure Microsoft

Microsoft and its manufacturing partners may find themselves needing to respond if Apple rolls out its much-rumored tablet computer later in 2009 or sometime in 2010. Although Microsoft has historically refused to comment on speculation or rumor, it has integrated touch-screen capabilities into Windows 7 that could conceivably allow the operating system to run on a tablet PC created by Dell or another manufacturer.

Online rumors have been swirling anew that Apple plans on releasing a tablet computer either later in 2009 or sometime in 2010, which could pressure Microsoft into working with its manufacturing partners to release a device of its own.

Further online speculation has revolved about whether Apple's much-rumored Sept. 15 keynote will include mention - or even a showing - of the tablet. If Apple executes a massive push behind the device, of course, the question then becomes what Microsoft and manufacturers such as Dell will do in response.

In the wake of initial rumors that Apple intended to release a tablet computer, Wired reported on August 3 that Dell and Intel were collaborating on a touch-screen tablet due for release sometime in 2010. That article made no mention of what operating system would be utilized for the rumored tablet, but given that Dell and Intel are both substantial Microsoft customers, it would be easy to surmise that the device would run some version of Windows 7.

Further reading

Indeed, Windows 7 will feature touch capabilities that could conceivably allow for its use in a tablet PC. In a Jul. 30 posting on The Windows Blog, Mark Rogers of Microsoft's Software Ecosystem Team wrote that "Windows Touch and multi-touch features provide a natural, intuitive way for users to interact with PCs. Companies such as Roxio, Corel and Cegid are all enabling Windows Touch in their applications."

However, when contacted by eWeek, a Microsoft spokesperson declined to comment on the possibility to Windows 7 being ported onto a tablet PC.

A tablet PC installed with a Windows OS could dovetail with Microsoft's larger plan to saturate the PC market with ultra-portable devices that provide higher margins than the mini-notebooks, known popularly as "netbooks," that have dominated PC sales throughout 2009.

During Microsoft's Financial Analyst Meeting on July 30, CEO Steve Ballmer said that his company would work with PC manufacturers to roll out devices, starting near the end of 2009, which would provide netbook portability at price-point of a few hundred dollars more.

"When a customer says, 'We want a netbook with a bigger screen,' we'll say, 'Here's an ultrathin,'" Ballmer said. "We want people to be able to get the advantages of lightweight performance and to spend more money with us."

Whether or not tablet PCs eventually play a role in that strategy, the overall touch-screen market is one that could definite appeal for Microsoft and its manufacturing partners: a May 2009 report by research firm DisplaySearch predicted that market as tripling from $3.6 billion to $9 billion over the next six years.

By submitting your information, you agree that eweek.com may send you eWEEK offers via email, phone and text message, as well as email offers about other products and services that eWEEK believes may be of interest to you. eWEEK will process your information in accordance with the Quinstreet Privacy Policy.

We ran into a problem

We already have your email address on file. Please use the "Forgot your password?" link to create a password, validate your email and login.